Equipment for carrying containers and the like



p 1935- H. o. DAVIDSON 2,013,950

EQUIPMENT FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 15, 1953 wok Qfiavz'afsan;

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES wisest;

er OFFICE EQUIPMENT FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE 4 Claims.

The invention relates to equipment to be used for carrying heavy articles, such as standard milk cans and other such containers which cannot be carried by one person without difficulty.

An object of the invention is to provide equipment which will enable a man to carry a container such as mentioned with less effort and greater speed, which can be readily released for removing the container or applied to the person with the same case and facility, and which can be economically manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide article carrying equipment for attachment to a persons waist which will hold the load in upright position distributing the weight of the load, part being taken by the persons hips and the remainder by the shoulders, and which will embody novel means for positioning the article on a supporting frame to safeguard against slipping while being carried.

A further object is to provide carrying equipment so constructed as to hold the article carried free from contact with the person at all but one point.

In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a View showing the device of the invention positioning a container on a persons back ready for carrying;

Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the device with the carrying strap and belt in the position they assume when operated;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the association which the base of the container has with the metal supporting frame;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-45 of Figure 4.

The present equipment has been particularly designed for use in combating forestfires where it is necessary to carry water long distances in standard containers, such as Ill, and consists in a waistband ll of any strong and durable material having a buckle I2 secured thereto for adjusting the size of the belt. Attached to the belt at substantially diametrically opposite points are the respective ends of the flexible straps l3 providing the loop M at the median portion thereof and being adjustable by reason of the connection l5.

Also secured to the waistband H is a metal frame l6 preferably formed of metal tubing 'and of arcuate shape, with the ends flattened at l! and secured by rivets or bolts It to the band. The ends of the strap I3 are also secured to the band by the rivets or bolts l8, being located between 5 the point and the flattened ends ll of the frame, as shown in Figure 5. 7 v s A yoke 20, formed of a metal rod or tube, bent into a U-shapehas its ends secured to the frame H as at 2!, Figure 6, the yoke extending upwardly 10 from the frame a distance determined by the height of the container for which the carrier is designed. By passing the loop Hi through the yoke, the flexible strap is associated indirectly with the metal frame.

Also secured to the frame at points within the legs of the yoke are pins 22 which project upwardly from the frame for engaging under the base rim of the container H), as shown in Figure 4. The pins 22 are purposely located within the legs of the yoke to properly position and hold the container on the frame as shown in Figure 4, whereby the exterior of the rim contacts with the legs of the yoke to thus prevent movement of the container on the frame so that the same will not accidentally slip off while being carried.

To use the device the container to be carried is positioned on the frame It with the base of the container engaged by the pins 22 to properly locate the same thereon while loop M of the strap is passed around the neck of the container as shown in Figure 1. The strap i3 is then adjusted in length at point l5 so that there is just enough slack to permit the person to get his shoulders through the loops. With this adjustment made the person turns his back to the carrier and slips one arm through the corresponding loop of strap 13 and pulls it up onto his shoulder, then does the same with the other arm and loop. He may then fasten the belt around his waist and walk off with the container securely and comfortably carried on his shoulders and waist, leaving his hands free. As with any heavy pack it is best to first lift the containerwith or without the harness attached-to some support about two or three feet above the ground, where it will be easy to get into the shoulder straps.

Although it is not necessary, it has been found desirable as an added precaution in retaining the loop around the neck of the container, to pass the loop through the handle 23. The container is held in upright position on the supporting frame adjacent the persons back as long as the straps are maintained on the persons shoulders. As the yoke 20 is made considerably less in height 5 than that of the container, the loop [4 is pulled downwardly to aid in holding the container in position on its supporting frame. Also the container is held where it will not contact the person, and in a manner which distributes the load between the waist and the shoulders.

The device with container attached can be easily set down by the person carrying it and then the device quickly transferred to another container, or a helper may transfer containers while the device is on the other persons back.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Equipment for carrying containers and the like, comprising a belt for attachment to a persons waist, a supporting frame secured to the belt extending rearwardly of the person, a strap having its ends secured to the respective sides of the belt and passing over the persons shoulders so that the median portion of the strap forms a loop adjacent the persons back, said loop engaging the container and assisting in holding the same in upright position on the frame, and a rigid yoke secured to the frame, the loop of said strap being passed under said yoke.

2. Equipment for carrying containers and the like, comprising a supporting frame for attachment to a persons waist to extend rearwardly of said person, a strap secured to the frame, said strap passing over the persons shoulders and providing a loop for engaging the container and holding the same in upright position supported on the frame, and projections on the frame for preventing the base of the container from slipping off the frame while the container is being carried.

3. Equipment for carrying containers and the like, comprising a supporting frame for attachment to a persons waist to extend rearwardly of said person, a strap secured to the frame, said strap passing over the persons shoulders and providing a loop for engaging the container and holding the same in upright position supported on the frame, a metal yoke secured to the frame and engaging with the strap between the persons back and shoulders, and projections on the frame for holding the base rim of the container between the yOke and projections.

4. In an article carrier for attachment to a person, a belt having a metal supporting frame of arcuate contour, flexible carrying straps secured to the belt, said straps passing over the shoulders of the person and providing an intermediate loop, said loop passing around the article and holding the article upright when supported on the frame, and means engaging the straps between the loop and shoulders, said means being secured to the frame to aid in holding the article on the frame by drawing the straps taut.

HAROLD O. DAVIDSON. 

